The Loyalty Loop: Get it Right, Drive the Next Order

A gym in South Carolina has sued Meta Platforms for allegedly overcharging Facebook advertisers a collective $4 billion, starting in 2013 and continuing for at least four years. In a class-action complaint filed late last week, Iron Tribe Fitness alleges that Facebook failed to honor representations that its auction system “would inherently protect bidders from overbidding.” The allegations center on Facebook's system for charging advertisers that submit winning bids in auctions. Iron Tribe, headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, alleges that Facebook purported to use a version of a “second price” auction system but instead, inadvertently, used a “blended price” system. The move to a “blended price” system was due to an error in a 2013 software update, according to the complaint.

In a time when misinformation is everywhere and consumer skepticism is at an all-time high, trust has become marketing’s most valuable currency. And for all the new tools and platforms marketers have adopted in the digital age, one channel consistently earns that trust more than any other: direct mail. Despite years of predictions about its decline, direct mail has not only survived — it’s thriving. In fact, it’s become the quiet powerhouse in omnichannel marketing strategies. As digital fatigue, privacy concerns, and ad fraud undermine confidence in online media, marketers and consumers alike are rediscovering the value of physical mail. The stats tell the story. Americans are seeing more ads than ever, but believing fewer of them. Social media feeds are crowded with questionable claims, sponsored content is often indistinguishable from organic posts, and AI-generated misinformation is rampant. Inboxes are overrun with scams, phishing attempts, and generic automated messaging.

CPG behemoth P&G saw its stock value increased today on the strength of its earnings report for the quarter ending with December, 2023, which included a 4% increase in organic sales. The company made it clear it considers its marketing investments an important ingredient in its growth. In an investors relations call, P&G Chairman, President and CEO Jon Moeller described the company’s strategy as being focused on “superior innovations that are driven by deep consumer insights.” He cited products such as Charmin Smooth Tear Ultra Soft and the Gillette Labs razor as examples of such innovation.